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The name of the province is

derived from its earliest inhabitants, the Zambals, whom the Spanish found worshipping spirits called anitos. They were referred to as “Sambali,” from the Malay word samba, meaning “to worship.” The term was later Hisparicized to “Zambal.”

ZAMBALES HISTORY

When Juan de Salcedo came to explore the area in 1572, he landed at Cape Bolinao, then a part of Zambales. The Spaniards drove a group of Chinese pirates off the coast of Bolinao thereby earning the good will of the natives.

CULTURE PRESERVATION of ZAMBALES PROVINCEZambales is home to the Aeta tribe. This group

of people are the earliest known Filipino’s to migrate to the islands more than 10,000 years ago. The Aeta tribe still lives in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range which forms the coastline of this beautiful province.

THE ZAMBALES FESTIVITIE

S

PAYNAUEN FESTIVAL

Paynauen ‘Duyan’ Festival is held every April 25 – May 1 in Iba, Zambales.  It  commemorates the provincial capital’s founding anniversary (founded in 1611) traces its origin from a Zambal word which means rest or pahingahan – the ancient name of Iba before the Spanish conquistadores founded the village on the shore of the Bancal River in 1611.

SIBIT SIBIT FESTIVAL

This 3-day event is an annual city affair that aims to reminisce the glorious saga of Olongapo as an ancient fishing village while at the same time promoting a friendly tourism alternative. The name Sibit Sibit is derived from an ancient term called “small paddle banca” used for fishing, as the city was born from being one of the ancient fishing villages of the country.

A war dance between the Christians and Aetas that is performed on the feast day of San Andres, patron of the town of Masinloc. The townspeople believe that, by performing the Binabayani, they are assured of a bountiful harvest.

BINABAYANI FESTIVAL

This is one of the biggest Religious Festivals in Zambales, attracting over 300,000 devotees every year.

FEAST of INA POON BATO

Domorokdok Festival is a grand celebration that brings all Botoleños together in unity and cooperation, in pursuit of peaceful and progressive Botolan.

DOMOROKDOK FESTIVAL

During the festival our brother and sister Aetas are given a part in the festival and recognize their achievements and contributions to our country by recognizing and preserving their historical distinctiveness as well as their specific  rights based on their historical ties to a particular area  through policies and programs of the local government of Zambales province. 

DINAMULAG FESTIVAL

MANGO FESTIVAL

In April, the Mango Festival is held in Iba, Zambales.  You will witness a spectacular display of Local Foods and specializes based around the “Zambales Mangos” which are rated in the Guinness Book of Records as “The sweetest Mangos in the World”.  There is also “Street Dancing” and many competitions such as “Sand Castling” also large and comprehensive agricultural displays.

MANGO FESTIVAL

•Float ParadeThe floats are made with indigenous materials and decorated with their own agricultural products prevalent in each every town highlighting the different varieties of mango.

Street dancing and float parade are simultaneously  held in the grand parade. The contingents  is in intense performance dancing in the street wearing colorful mango inspired costumes followed by their respective float.

Street Dancing

MAIN PRODUCT and LIVELIHOOD of

people in ZAMBALES

Zambales Mango

With the recognition received as the sweetest and delicious mango in the world, the mango production become a major industry in Zambales. From their beginning, the association of mango growers in Zambales, improved and developed  the packaging, handling and shipping system of the mango, for local and international

distribution. It was also regarded as one of the best mango varieties in the world.

Zambales is basically an agricultural province. The chief products are rice, corn, vegetables, and rootcrops.

Zambales is basically an agricultural province. The chief products are rice, corn, vegetables, and rootcrops. Major industries include farming, fishing, and mining.

Zambales is subdivided into 13 municipalities and 1 highly urbanized city, which are divided into two legislative districts. Olongapo City is a highly urbanized city and administers itself autonomously from the province. Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) a Philippine-claimed territory, is a designated part of the province. Iba is a first class municipality and the capital of the province of Zambales Philippines.

The GOVERNANCE of ZAMBALES

TOURIST’ DESTINATIONS

in ZAMBALES

Magsaysay Ancestral House, located at Castillejos, Zambales is the ancestral of the seventh Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay. It is open for public viewing. With traces of the past, the Magsaysay residence is was the former leader of the Philippines grew up.

RAMON MAGSAYSAY ANCESTRAL HOUSE

Looc Lake, in Barangay Looc is the planned site for an open park for all ages and is to be developed as an alternative destination for quality time with nature and love ones.

LOOC LAKE

Anawangin Cove is a crescent shaped cove with a pristine white sand beach. What makes the place unique is the unusual of riddle of tall pine trees flourishing round its vicinity.

ANAWANGIN COVE

Capone’s is known as Faro de Punta Capone’s that brings visitors back in time. The romantic lighthouse guides ships entering or leaving the Port of Manila as well as the Military station at Subic Bay.

LIGHTHOUSE

Before 1991, the mountain was inconspicuous and heavily eroded. It was covered in dense forest which supported a population of several thousand indigenous people, the Aeta, who had fled to the mountains from the lowlands during the protracted Spanish conquest of the Philippines which first commenced in 1565.

Mt. PINATUBO

A collection of crocodiles with audio-visual presentation on the need to preserve and nurture the Philippine crocodile called Crocodilus Mindorensis, a fresh water crocodile found only in the Philippines.

KITSIE’S CROCODILE

The faith flourished in the region until the troubled days of the Revolution of 1896. Leaving ruined churches and convents in its wake the revolution, rendered the region practically unattended; only some time later did secular priests took over the some of the vacated parishes. In this state of things the territory became a fertile ground for the Aglipayan schism to gain a foothold and prosper, so much so that almost the whole length and breadth of the province came under Aglipayan influence.

SAN AGUSTINE CHURCH

Located at Paluig Zambales, standing at the height of 6,683 feet (2,037m) above sea level with temperature cooler than Baguio at 12-16 Celsius (53.660.8 Fahrenheit), is veritably a garden of nature abundant with century old as Tapulao, hence, the name of the mountain.

Mt. TAPULAO

San Salvador is an island barangay under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Masinloc, Zambales, in the northwestern Luzon. The reefs in the northeastern part of the island are fringing, characterized by a vast reef flat with sudden drop-offs in the crest.

SAN SALVADOR,MASINLOC

It is one of the cultural heritage churches in the Philippines because of a polychrome portal leading to the choir loft. It was built with coral stones by Augustinian Recollects in the 18th century and is approximately 400 years old. It is the oldest church in the Diocese of Iba and it has a stood intact until it was damage by an earthquake in the early 1990’s.

SAN ANDRES CHURCH

Gentle breeze and warm placid waters of the South China Sea welcome travelers to this charming and peaceful little tropical island off coast of the town of Candelaria in the northern part of Zambales. Literally meaning “small white island”, Potipot Island boasts of lush array of coconut, mango, kamachile and talisay trees, coral shells, hermits’ crabs, starfishes, and the most spectacular sunsets ever witnessed in this side of town.

POTIPOT ISLAND

Dubbed as Philippines number one destination for extreme adventures and sports, Subic bay stands out as one of the recommended destinations in the country. It is well known for its diversity in both cuisine and culture. Some have described the panoramic views and leisure activities here as experiences of a lifetime. Others have depicted the place as one of the spots in the world that you can label as Paradise.

YOU ARE NOW LEAVING ZAMBALES…